The real Bush legacy

Tuesday

Apr 30, 2013 at 12:01 AM

It was an awesome sight! Five Presidents of the United States photographed cordially together at the dedication of the George W. Bush Memorial Library in Dallas, Texas. Our current President, Barack Hussein Obama, and four ex-Presidents, George W. Bush, William J. Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Jimmy Carter all gathered to honor one of their own. What a wonderful testimonial to our great democracy. Five of the world's most powerful men, who often were political opponents yet never enemies, posing in peace, fellowship and mutual respect, is amazing. In America we are a people who are committed to the "rule of law"; even the President's enormous power is limited by the greater power of the Constitution. Americans are not subject to the will or whim of a despot. Each of these men was chosen by the people, not bequeathed power by a tyrant, or won power by armed rebellion. Each man assumed power from his predecessor peacefully, and when his term was finished, each relinquished power freely. Americans don't "hang ex-Presidents", or imprison them, or assign them to ignominious retirement in disgrace. We continue to honor our Presidents for their courage, dedication, and service to our nation; as well we should. All that amazing grace was shown forth on the campus of S.M.U. last Thursday. It was a glorious moment.

Yet even in the glow of our grand democracy, a cloud hung over the proceedings and continues to shadow our nation. It has been said, "To lie to another is dangerous, but to lie to the self is deadly." Let me say upfront, I never supported President Bush, but I never thought him a bad man. He most probably is a good man, just a truly inept President, who made some horrible and deadly decisions. That ineptness again was revealed at the dedication. Even at such an auspicious moment, the reality of the Bush legacy of death, suffering and hate was completely ignored. In spite of all the smiling accolades poured upon him, President Bush still lacked the courage to acknowledge the true legacy of his 8 year presidency; even as America only recently suffered another grievous wound as a result of that legacy. The two young murderers responsible for the Boston Marathon bombings claim that their motivation for this heinous act was to achieve some justice for the American attack on Iraq and our incursion into Afghanistan. This horrible carnage was spawned by the Bush Administration. President Bush and his advisors lied to themselves, to the American people, and to the world as they built a fabricated justification for preemptive invasions of Muslim nations. They spuriously accused Iraq of having "weapons of mass destruction" that threatened the world. They somehow allied Saddam Hussein with Osama ben Laden as partners in the attacks on the World Trade Centers, when in fact these two tyrants were mortal enemies. They posited that Iraqi's were longing for liberation and would greet our invasion forces as liberators. Of course all these claims were proven to be fantasies of the then president who actually wanted to get the Iraqi tyrant that his father had failed to remove. He promised a short conflict and arrogantly proclaimed mission accomplished when the war was only ended years later by President Obama. Now Obama must still struggle to conclude his second inherited deadly conflict in Afghanistan. The only mission accomplished by President Bush, from which we continue to suffer, was a heightened and intensified Muslim hatred for America. Over a decade later, with near 8000 young Americans slain, untold number wounded and maimed, and uncountable death and suffering in Iraq, the results of the Bush legacy still haunt America, even to Boston. Tragically he and we still deny it.

Amazingly, columnist Charles Krauthammer summed up the Bush presidency in one ludicrous sentence: "He kept us safe." (the Bush Legacy: 4/28/13) Perhaps he could explain that outlandish claim to the survivors of the hundreds of burial sites in Arlington Cemetery marked as Iraqi or Afghani war veteran deaths; or to the many maimed, wounded, and mind robbed veterans of those unnecessary Bush wars of choice. The Bush legacy still bleeds and dies in the dead and suffering in Boston. Republicans continue trying to divert America's attention from this horror by condemning Obama and Clinton for the tragedy at Benghazi where four Americans were sadly slain. Or as one Western Front contributor wrote vehemently condemning President Obama for his "lies", while totally ignoring the most horrendous lie that is still having deadly results. These neocons continue to practice their selective memory, lie to themselves, and callously ignore the truth.

The real irony, of course, is that the American people are the most forgiving people on earth. If President Bush would only face the truth, accept his responsibility, and express his regrets, his stature would immediately grow in the hearts and minds of most Americans. We want to honor our Presidents, but we expect them to be truthful about their own failures and follies, expressing contrition for their wrongs, and courageously seeking forgiveness. Michael Gerson, another columnist and friend of President Bush describes him as "A Principled President (4/28/13)." Being principled begins with being honest. Even in the fullness of honor at his Library, Bush ignored and shrugged at any mention of the truth of his flawed decision to send young Americans to war and so many to their death. The whole nation would celebrate President Bush's honesty, and even the whole world might more highly respect and admire him and America. We could win a great victory over the hatred toward us without firing a shot by just being honest. It has been said by theologians wiser than I that "Pride is the root of all evil (not money.)" If pride keeps America from being true to herself, we all will continue to suffer. What a great legacy President George W. Bush could leave his country: courage, honesty, and yes, some humility. His Memorial Library could surely remember and celebrate such stature. I know I would....

(Father Bob Layne - Episcopal Priest; retied - McPherson, Kansas)

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.